May 02, 2009

China's string of pearls around India

China has historically viewed itself as the center of the
world which must keep the option of expansion open for all time. It is against
this overarching vision that one must see a report by The Times of London’s
South Asia correspondent Jeremy Page about China’s deep involvement in Sri
Lanka.

The Indian strategic establishment has known for a while
that China’s long-term strategy is to encircle India under the guise of
creating strong commercial relationships in countries around India. Its project
to build a billion dollar port at Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka is in
keeping with that encirclement or “string of pearls” strategy. China has been
involved in upgrading port facilities at Gwadar in Pakistan, Chittagong in
Bangladesh and Sittwe in Burma. Once you look at the map of the region and plot
these four points you begin to make sense of that strategy.

Of the four ports Hambantotta is probably the most strategic
as it sits at one of the world’s most strategic spots. As Page notes it is also
one of the world’s busiest sea routes. That gives China both a powerful commercial
and strategic vantage point that it so badly needs in that part of the world.

In some ways China has been following the ways of predatory
lenders in its quest for establishing a global sphere of influence. Quite like
predatory lenders it preys on countries which are either unsuspecting or
desperate or helpless or a combination of all three to lend large sums of money
and arms without any conditions attached. Once these countries are hooked on to
money without any apparent strings, China moves in with its long-term
objectives.

As a rule China does not seek to politically influence a
country it sees as a part of its larger design. However, the backing of the
world’s most coveted economy has unintended consequences. For instance, it is
believed by Indian experts that the reason why Sri Lanka has been able to
withstand international pressure during its current bloody military assault on
the Tamil Tigers separatists, it is because of the no-strings attached Chinese
billions. In return China would demand untrammeled access to Hambantotta port.
Many see this as a Faustian bargain which will eventually exact its price on
these countries.

It is possible that China may be driven primarily by commercial
motivations and may see any strategic benefits as incidental. It is equally
possible that China may not have any grand strategic vision of the kind being
attributed to its planners but now that the word is out they might choose to
exploit that part of the deal as well.

Comments

China's string of pearls around India

China has historically viewed itself as the center of the
world which must keep the option of expansion open for all time. It is against
this overarching vision that one must see a report by The Times of London’s
South Asia correspondent Jeremy Page about China’s deep involvement in Sri
Lanka.

The Indian strategic establishment has known for a while
that China’s long-term strategy is to encircle India under the guise of
creating strong commercial relationships in countries around India. Its project
to build a billion dollar port at Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka is in
keeping with that encirclement or “string of pearls” strategy. China has been
involved in upgrading port facilities at Gwadar in Pakistan, Chittagong in
Bangladesh and Sittwe in Burma. Once you look at the map of the region and plot
these four points you begin to make sense of that strategy.

Of the four ports Hambantotta is probably the most strategic
as it sits at one of the world’s most strategic spots. As Page notes it is also
one of the world’s busiest sea routes. That gives China both a powerful commercial
and strategic vantage point that it so badly needs in that part of the world.

In some ways China has been following the ways of predatory
lenders in its quest for establishing a global sphere of influence. Quite like
predatory lenders it preys on countries which are either unsuspecting or
desperate or helpless or a combination of all three to lend large sums of money
and arms without any conditions attached. Once these countries are hooked on to
money without any apparent strings, China moves in with its long-term
objectives.

As a rule China does not seek to politically influence a
country it sees as a part of its larger design. However, the backing of the
world’s most coveted economy has unintended consequences. For instance, it is
believed by Indian experts that the reason why Sri Lanka has been able to
withstand international pressure during its current bloody military assault on
the Tamil Tigers separatists, it is because of the no-strings attached Chinese
billions. In return China would demand untrammeled access to Hambantotta port.
Many see this as a Faustian bargain which will eventually exact its price on
these countries.

It is possible that China may be driven primarily by commercial
motivations and may see any strategic benefits as incidental. It is equally
possible that China may not have any grand strategic vision of the kind being
attributed to its planners but now that the word is out they might choose to
exploit that part of the deal as well.